•••Launches Endowment Fund of N40 million for Prizes.
Attah Ede Makurdi
A non governmental organization, Obla Foundation founded by Chief Godwin Obla has donated a well built and equiped ultramodern kidney center to the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo in honour of late Judith Obla who died as a result of kidney related disease.
The facility, which is the first of its kind in Benue senatorial axis has six dialysis machines with other first-class facilities and is expected to cater for the needs of patients with kidney disease as well as provide easy and affordable healthcare services to members of the society.
Speaking during the commissioning and handing over of the facility to the management of Federal University Otukpo, Chairman of the Foundation, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) said kidney patients in Benue State particularly in Otukpo LGA can now receive treatment at the Otukpo University Teaching Hospital at affordable prices.
According to him, he lost his wife as a result of complications arising from diabetes which led to kidney failure, noting that throughout the time his wife boldly faced the challenges of the underlying ailment and its effect on other secondary consequential ailments, the lack of facilities and its impacts on his people was glaring.
“After her passing on, I had the burden of doing my bit in facing through my foundation. I promised to donate a center that will provide basic dialysis facilities to our people within a year. We have migrated from providing purely dialysis to a center for training, services and research.
“The center currently has six units of brand new dialysis machines with manufacturer’s warranty, two beds in the intensive care unit to cater for unforeseen emergencies arising from service delivery, laboratory, laundry, various medical equipment to meet various needs and room for dieticians and social workers etc”, Obla ststed.
He charged the University to maintain strictly clinical governance structure and agreement, offer sympathetic, quantitative services devoid of nepotism, tribalism and any form of bias whatever.
He disclosed that in addition to donating the health center to the University, the foundation has decided to sign an agreement with the university to institute endowment of forty million naira(N40) for different categories of prizes for graduating students to boost academic excellent.
Also speaking at the handing over of the facility, State deputy Governor Engr. Benson Abounu, thanked Chief Obla for creating a platform that would enhance the well-being of many people, describing the donation as a “wonderful gesture.”
He urged other spirited individuals to give back to humanity.
He disclosed that the state government had succeeded in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health for the full conversion of Otukpo general hospital into Federal University of Health Science Teaching Hospital Otukpo to promote teaching, learning and research activities in the university.
In his address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Innocent Ujah thanked Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) for the honour done to the University, saying this is the first time a university established in less than two years would be developing with such facility.
Prof. Ujah encouraged others to borrow a leaf from this and urged Nigerians can replicate this in other universities and clinics all over the country to save many lives.
He appreciated the donor for launching an endowment of forty million naira for students of the institution
Similarly, the senator representing Benue south senatorial district, Senator Abba Moro and Och’Idoma HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Obagaji and the Benue State deputy Governor-elect, Chief Sam Ode, all described the donation as a landmark feat for the health sector in the state.
While appreciating the foundation, they urged individuals of like minds to rise to the challenge as the government cannot do it all alone and thanked Chief Obla for his service to humanity.